TWO’s Wayne Besen Kicks-Off National ‘Pray Away the Gay’ Speaking Tour At University of Vermont on Friday

National ‘Pray Away The Gay?’ Speaking Tour Kicks Off at The University of Vermont Activist and Author Wayne Besen Available for Dynamic, Multi-Media Presentation on the ‘Ex-Gay’ Industry

NEW YORK — Author and activist Wayne Besen will kick-off a national 2009-10 speaking tour in Burlington, Sept. 25, at the University of Vermont. The multi-media presentation, “Pray Away the Gay?”, offers a unique, innovative and entertaining look behind the mask of so-called ex-gay programs. Besen is the founder of the non-profit organization Truth Wins Out and author of two books including the critically acclaimed, “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth”. He is also known for photographing ex-gay poster boy John Paulk in a gay bar in Washington, DC.

“My goal is to educate people on this important topic in an exciting and memorable way,” said Besen, who has spoken at more than 100 leading universities, community organizations, business groups and religious institutions. “This new show is packed with powerful information, yet is very funny. The best entertainment allows people to learn20and laugh at the same time.”

During his hour and a half show, Besen takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of ex-gay ministry and therapy programs. Audiences will learn the history of these groups, the bizarre techniques they use and the political players that finance their efforts.

In 2006, Besen was recognized in the Advocate Magazine’s “People of the Year” issue for his work with Truth Wins Out. Besen has appeared as a guest on leading news and political talk shows including: the NBC Nightly News, CNN’s Talk Back Live and The Point, Fox’s O’Reilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes, MSNBC News and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Jour nal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and the Advocate Magazine.

Besen also has a weekly column that is published in the Falls Church News Press and more than a dozen GLBT publications. Prior to founding Truth Wins Out, Besen served as a spokesperson for five years with the Human Rights Campaign. He also worked in corporate communications for Edelman Public Relations and as a press secretary on a U.S. Senate race in Maine.

About the Author

Wayne Besen is the Founding Executive Director of Truth Wins Out and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth” (Haworth, 2003). In 2010, Besen was awarded the “Visionary Award” at the Out Music Awards for organizing the American Prayer Hour, an event which shined a spotlight on the role American evangelicals played in the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Get to Know Us

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights the "ex-gay" myth and antigay religious extremism.

TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies and exposes wrongdoing. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for truth, integrity, and equality for sexual minorities.